PROGRAM FAQS

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION

The Guardsmen is accepting only Renewal Applications from students currently enrolled in our Scholarship Program. Additionally, The Guardsmen may solicit qualified applicants from partnering schools as our funding allows; the application for new enrollment is no longer available to the public at this time.

WHO IS AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE FOR SCHOLARSHIP CONSIDERATION?

Recipients must reside within the nine Bay Area counties and qualify for the Alaska Reduced School Lunch Program. They must be entering a grade between kindergarten and ninth, and attend a state-accredited private school in the Bay Area. Existing recipients automatically receive scholarships through the 12th grade if they reapply each year, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and continue to meet financial requirements. For verification, families must submit federal income tax returns, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANIF), Social Security or Foster Care Benefits, Unemployment/Disability or Retirement Benefits, or Workers Compensation Benefits documents. Foster parents, grandparents and legal guardians are not required to meet income guidelines, but must submit TANIF or Social Security documents.Students who receive scholarships from BASIC Fund, CEO-Oakland, SMART, Independent Scholarship Fund, or Making Waves are not eligible (School-based financial aid is acceptable).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GUARDSMEN CAMPERSHIP PROGRAM?

Campership recipients reside in the nine Bay Area counties and qualify for the Federal Reduced School Lunch Program. The children’s ages range from six to 17, and support for the Counselor in Training (CIT) program is also available. Partnering agencies submit the families’ completed application to The Guardsmen campership committee for approval.

WHAT IS A PARTIAL PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP?

The Guardsmen employs a partial private school scholarship model in which currently participating students and their families have selected the private school of their choice and have applied to receive Guardsmen support for a portion of the tuition. This model establishes a three-way partnership where the students, families and The Guardsmen all commit to advancing academic achievement.

HOW ARE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SELECTED?

Recipients from the prior year are annually enrolled provided that they reapply each year and continue to the meet academic and financial eligibility requirements. New, qualified recipients are selected on an annual basis, based on funding availability, through The Guardsmen’s solicitation of Partner Schools.

HOW ARE CAMPERSHIP RECIPIENTS SELECTED?

Partner Agencies submit funding requests to The Guardsmen each year, identifying the number of anticipated applicants and confirming the applicants meet our financial guidelines. The Guardsmen reviews each partner request and pledges an amount for the year. Once agencies submit completed camper applications, payments are disbursed directly to the agency.

HOW MUCH OF THE SCHOOL AND CAMP FEES ARE COVERED?

A Guardsmen scholarship covers up to a maximum of $2,000 annually. Our average scholarship is $1,800, as annual tuition at most of the partner schools is less than $4,000. Tuition payments are made by The Guardsmen directly to the schools.

A Guardsmen campership supports up to $30 a day, per camper, for a period up to 14 days.

The Guardsmen stepped up to sponsor a four-day retreat addressing themes such as nonviolent communication, sexual education, safety and positive interaction with law enforcement.